Police chief won't be required to live in town

SOMERSET — Whether or not the next police chief should be required to live in Somerset was part of the discussion as the selectmen worked on the qualifications for the position last week.

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By GEORGE AUSTIN

southcoasttoday.com

By GEORGE AUSTIN

Posted Apr. 4, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By GEORGE AUSTIN

Posted Apr. 4, 2014 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

SOMERSET — Whether or not the next police chief should be required to live in Somerset was part of the discussion as the selectmen worked on the qualifications for the position last week.

The town currently does not have such a requirement for the police chief. Current Police Chief Joseph Ferreira does live in Somerset.

Resident Anthony Kucikas brought up the idea of having a residency requirement for the police chief. Selectman Scott LeBeau said having a residency requirement would restrict the number of candidates who would apply for the job. Of the two captains who currently work at the department and could be interested in the police chief's job, he said one lives in Somerset and one does not.

Former selectman Steve Moniz said he thinks a residency requirement for the police chief is a great idea and does not think it will restrict candidates or bring in any less qualified candidates. He thinks the police chief should be able to feel the burden of taxes in Somerset like the other citizens do and said living in town would help the chief to understand what is going on in the town.

"If someone is really dedicated to the position, they'll make the effort to move into town within a year," Mr. Moniz said.

Selectmen Chairman Donald Setters, Jr. said the police chief could be given two years to move into the town. He said candidates for the job may have children embedded in other school systems. Mr. LeBeau said one year is not a lot of time for a family to uproot where they live and move. Chief Ferreira said he is against a residency requirement, but said he thinks the police chief living in the town where he or she works is a good idea. He said that when he has been out jogging or at the supermarket, people talk to him about what is going on in Somerset which helps him to understand the pulse of the town.

Mr. Moniz said he thinks 18 months would be a good compromise for a residency requirement for the police chief.

There used to be a requirement that the town administrator live in town. But that has been changed so the person in that position does not have to reside in Somerset. Mr. Luttrell, who does not live in Somerset, said the change was not made for him.

Selectman Patrick O'Neil said he is not opposed to the residency requirement for the police chief.

"Our duty here is to hire the best candidate," Mr. LeBeau said.

Mr. Luttrell said the town could run into situations where one of the captains who works at the department is chosen for the job, but his family members do not want to move away from the town where they live.

Resident Jerry Waksler said the fire chief and school superintendent do not have residency requirements and do not live in Somerset, so questioned why one employee of the town would be forced to live in town.

"That's my argument, too," Mr. LeBeau said.

Mr. Setters said he can not remember the town having a police chief who did not live in Somerset.

Mr. LeBeau suggested that there could be a requirement that the police chief live within a certain amount of miles of the town.

Mr. Moniz said maybe the town should put a residency requirement on the fire chief and school superintendent. He said other towns across the country do so.

Resident Scott O'Brien said if a police chief lived out of town, the town would have more expenses on gasoline and maintenance on the town vehicle that the chief uses. Mr. LeBeau said town employees with town vehicles are given a limit on the miles they can go with those vehicles.

Mr. O'Brien, who is also the chairman of the town's Water and Sewer Commission, said he supported the residency requirement and questioned why a police chief for Somerset would not want to live in town. Resident Sanford Brown said if a new police chief is serious about the job, he or she will move into town.

Town Counsel Clement Brown said the town can not make it a requirement to live in town to apply for the police chief's job, but can require a chief to move into town if he or she is hired.

When the selectmen voted the qualifications for the job, they said a person who is hired to be Somerset's police chief should have a willingness to move into town.

The selectmen voted to make the salary range for the new police chief between $104,000 and $115,000 after Mr. Luttrell had looked at what other chiefs make around the area. Chief Ferreira has a base salary of $92,000 and then he receives incentive pay that puts his salary over $120,000. Chief Ferreira said he has seen police chiefs who make between $150,000 and $170,000.

The selectmen also discussed requirements of candidates to apply for the job, such as having at least the rank of lieutenant, a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or law enforcement related major with 10 years of supervisory experience and at least five years as a commander.

The board also discussed the makeup of a screening committee for the police chief applicants. Chief Ferreira said an officer should be a lieutenant or above to be on the screening committee. He said the Massachusetts Police Chief's Association could provide a representative for the committee who would be objective. He said someone with administrative experience should be on the committee. Mr. LeBeau said he has talked to the State Police about having a representative on the committee. The selectmen said they would also like someone from the community on the screening committee. Any member of the community who is interested in serving on the screening committee should send a letter of interest to the selectmen at the Town Office Building, 140 Wood St., Somerset, MA 02726.

With his retirement rapidly approaching, Chief Ferreira asked the selectmen to set a deadline for applications for the job. He has notified the town that he will be retiring in June. Chief Ferreira said someone would have to be hired soon in order to train with him before he leaves the department.

Mr. Setters said the department has two "fine captains" who could be in charge of the Police Department if a new police chief has not been hired before Chief Ferreira leaves. The selectmen decided to accept applications for the police chief's job for three weeks.